What To Do If Your Airbags Fail To Deploy
Posted in Car accidents on February 19, 2023
We depend on our airbags to work correctly so that they can prevent injuries in the event an accident occurs. Unfortunately, there are times when airbags are defective and fail to deploy. Here, we want to review the steps you can take if the airbags in your vehicle fail to deploy when an accident occurs. You may be able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for any injuries you sustained as a direct result of the airbag not working correctly.
Common Reasons Airbags Don’t Deploy
Faulty airbags create hazards for drivers and passengers, and there are various reasons why an airbag may fail to deploy. One of the processes of determining whether or not you have a viable airbag failure claim is investigating the entire incident to determine what caused the airbag to fail in the first place. Some of the most common causes of airbag failures include:
- A rip, hole, or tear in the airbag
- Failed sensors that do not signal the airbag to release upon impact
- A missing or aging airbag that has not been replaced
- A flawed airbag design or manufacturing defect
- Electrical wiring or wiring harness problems
Regardless of the reason why an airbag does not deploy, the reality is that this can lead to significant injuries that otherwise likely would not have occurred. Airbags are essential for preventing serious head and brain injuries, and they can also lessen the impact of other types of injuries, including whiplash, spinal cord trauma, and more. Additionally, many newer vehicles have airbags that surround drivers and passengers, and these airbags work to prevent serious injuries that may occur to the side of the body when an impact happens.
Seeking Compensation From Another Party
After an accident in which the airbags do not deploy, it is crucial to determine which at-fault party should be held responsible for the incident and the injuries. If another driver was responsible for the accident, they may be the ones initially on the line to pay compensation for your injuries and property damage.
However, if the airbags did not deploy and caused additional injuries, then the manufacturer of the vehicle or the airbag could also be held liable for the damages. Typically, these incidents require extensive investigations. There will likely need to be an accident reconstruction expert and individuals who have extensive experience handling airbag defect claims involved in the case.
In order to file a lawsuit against an airbag manufacturer or a vehicle manufacturer, you and your attorney will have to prove the following:
- The airbags should have deployed but failed to do so
- The airbags did not deploy because of a defect
- You sustained injuries as a result of the airbags not deploying
- The injuries caused by the airbag failure led to monetary losses
We encourage you to reach out to a skilled Nashville car accident lawyer as soon as possible if you have questions about your vehicle accident and the airbags. Because filing these claims is often time sensitive, the sooner an attorney can begin the investigation, the better. The ultimate goal here is to recover compensation for your medical bills, property damage expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages.